The Bible pronounces against the homosexual and lesbian lifestyle

Jun 22, 2014 Letters

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Dear Editor,
The issue of homosexuality and lesbianism has risen again in Guyana with arguments centering on human rights and religion. This time, pastor McGarrell is on record as saying that gays should go to live on an island to prevent others from being consumed when the wrath of God descends. Bishop Edgehill, in a subsequent radio programme, sought to take the sting out of MGarrell’s utterance but agreed that the gay lifestyle is neither supported by the Bible or by some Bible-believing people. The US Ambassador and other writers have taken up the issue as a human rights one, castigating the pastors for their stance on the issue. But the content and context of what the pastor and the bishop said do not seem to impinge on people’s rights. They seem to have simply taken a stand in keeping with the teachings of the Bible.
I should say from the outset that no one should be denied their human rights.  Every one, whether gay or straight, has the right to life, liberty and security of person. Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. In fact, God himself has given humans one of the most fundamental rights – the right to choose. He told the Children of Israel, ‘I call  heaven and earth  to record this day against you that I have set before you life and death,  blessing and cursing:  therefore choose  life,  that both thou and thy seed may live’ (Deut. 30:19). While God allows freedom of choice, He points the way of the choice and leaves us to exercise our right. In this regard, I would liken God’s approach to discourses on freedom of the press. Most schools of thought on journalism suggest that the press should be unfettered, but its freedom must be exercised with responsibility.
While individuals exercise their right of lifestyle choice, some of their choices run counter to the teachings of the Bible. For example, while a person can exercise his right to drink and get drunk, the Bible debars drunkards from the Kingdom of Heaven ‘Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the  kingdom of God’ (1Co. 6:10).  Similarly a person can exercise the right to become a sex worker, but the Bible warns against prostitution: ‘Do not prostitute thy daughter, to cause her to be a whore; lest the land fall to  whoredom, and the land become full of wickedness’. (Lev. 19:29). Similarly, an individual can choose the gay or lesbian lifestyle, but God is bitterly against that lifestyle. In fact, the Bible is so strong against the homosexual lifestyle that it says that those who engage in homosexual activities ‘are worthy of death’ (Romans 1: 32).
The scripture is clear – men who burn in lust for other men and women who change the natural use of their body invite God’s judgment. I would humbly invite all interested readers to read Romans Chapter 1. Two verses read: ‘For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet…. Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death’ (Romans 1: 26-32).
However, commentators keep interjecting human rights as a red herring in the argument. In this debate on homosexuality and lesbianism, there should be honesty, integrity and desire to arrive at what is best and good for society and not for the lust of some individuals. It is dishonest to look at unequivocal scriptures, ignore them and instead speak of discrimination and denial of human rights.  Given the guarantee of human rights in both the letter and substance for homosexuals and lesbians, the Bible still pronounces against the gay lifestyle. If the Ambassador and others believe the words of the Bible, then what we all should be doing is ensuring that the human rights of those who change the  natural use of their bodies into that which is not natural are protected and at the same time telling them of the consequences, and it’s certain not banishment on Robben Island.
Of course, one can exercise his or her God-given right to ignore the warning of the Bible, argue with it, condemn it, trash it, or just shrug it off. The Jews in Jesus’ time exercised their right of choice and choose Barabas as they rejected Jesus. Today, thousands of years after, Israel lives in the bitter consequences of her people’s choice.  Let that not be said of Guyana.
Lennox Cornette    

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